Print control based on print head temperature

a technology of print head and temperature, applied in printing, other printing apparatus, etc., can solve the problem that the heating element used to eject ink through the nozzles does not generate enough heat to heat up ink in the print head, and achieve the effect of efficient cooling of the print head

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-04-11
CANON KK
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]Advantageously, the foregoing methods provide for efficient cooling of a print head after a print job.

Problems solved by technology

Because the ink is ejected intermittently and at a frequency lower than that used for printing, the heating elements that are used to eject the ink through the nozzles do not generate sufficient heat to heat up ink in the print head.

Method used

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  • Print control based on print head temperature
  • Print control based on print head temperature
  • Print control based on print head temperature

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0027]FIG. 1 is a view showing an outward appearance of computing equipment used in connection with the invention described herein. Computing equipment 1 includes host processor 2. Host processor 2 comprises a personal computer, preferably an IBM PC-compatible computer having a windowing environment, such as Microsoft® Windows95. Provided with computing equipment 1 are display screen 3 comprising a color monitor or the like, keyboard 4 for entering text data and user commands, and pointing device 5. Pointing device 5 preferably comprises a mouse for pointing to and for manipulating objects displayed on display screen 3.

[0028]Computing equipment 1 includes floppy disk interface 6 and a computer-readable memory medium, such as fixed disk 7. Floppy disk interface 6 provides a means whereby computing equipment 1 can access information, such as data files, application programs, etc., stored on floppy disks. A similar CD-ROM interface (not shown) may be provided with computing equipment 1...

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PUM

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for cooling a print head of an ink jet printer before capping includes the steps of determining an ambient temperature, determining a print head temperature, and waiting a predetermined time after receipt of the last print data for the print job, ejecting a predetermined number of ink droplets from nozzles of the print head at a frequency lower than a frequency used for printing, determining a drop in print head temperature caused by ejecting the predetermined number of ink droplets, and repeating the steps of waiting a predetermined time and ejecting a predetermined number of ink droplets until the print head temperature falls below a threshold.

Description

[0001]This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09 / 070,920, filed May 4, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,378.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to controlling a print operation for an ink jet printer based on print head temperature. In particular, the invention pertains to controlling the print operation so as to cool an ink jet print head before capping.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Conventional ink jet printers utilize a print head with a plurality of nozzles that are supplied with ink by internal ink supply tubes. The ink from the ink supply tubes forms a meniscus in each nozzle. A heating element is disposed behind each nozzle, and ink is ejected from a nozzle by firing the corresponding heating element. The firing of the heating element boils the ink, thereby forming a bubble of ink that is ejected from the nozzle, resulting in a dot, or pixel, on a recording medium. Thus, by controlling the fir...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityPatents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B41J29/38B41J2/05B41J2/165B41J29/377
CPCB41J2/04563B41J2/0458B41J2/04573B41J2/165
InventorYAMADA, AKITOSHIHIRABAYASHI, HIROMITSUSUKIGARA, AKIHIKO
OwnerCANON KK